Northern Macedonia

The former Yugoslav state Macedona has officially gained its new name as the Republic of North Macedonia, putting a start to country's official process of joining NATO. According to alliance's officials it will be accepted as a full member late this year or early in 2020 once parliaments have endorsed the so-called `Protocol of the North Atlantic Treaty for the Accession of North Macedonia`. Until then, however, it can take part in NATO meetings as a guest.

Greek lawmakers ratified on Friday the controversial deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) settling a name dispute that has separated the two neighbors for nearly 30 years. The so-called Prespes agreement was passed with 153 votes in favour and 146 against, despite rancorous protests taking place in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expressed on Wednesday optimism that the name deal with Greece would be ratified by Parliament in Athens this week, saying that he looks forward to getting a new passport for the “Republic of North Macedonia.”

Greece's left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras narrowly survived the confidence vote on Wednesday night days after his governing coalition collapsed due to the resignation of his coalition partner and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos. Tsipras won the ballot with the support of 151 lawmakers in the 300 seat parliament, backed by his own Syriza party, independent lawmakers and dissenting deputies from his former ally party - Independent Greeks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Greece today for the first time in nearly five years as Alexis Tsipras' government is facing a possible loss of its parliamentary majority. During her two-day visit, Merkel will first and foremost urge Greece to press on with tough economic reforms and maintain strict fiscal discipline. Her visit, however, will not only focus on the economy. It will also address the Prespes name deal with neighbouring Macedonia with Merkel reiterating Germany’s positive stance towards the agreement and expressing her support for the greek prime minister.

Macedonian lawmakers are poised to gather from Wednesday, 9 January, to hold a crucial debate about changing their country's name to settle a decades-long dispute with Greece and open the way to NATO and EU membership. But the switch to "the Republic of North Macedonia" is expected to be an uphill task involving 4 constitutional amendments and the support of two thirds of the 120-member parliament.

Macedonia moved closer on Sunday to rename the country and remove a key hurdle on the road to breaking a decades-long stalemate with Greece, after 67 MPs in the 120-member parliament vote for a second reading of four amendments to the country's constitution.

On Friday evening the national parliament in Skopje propped up amendments in the country’s constitution that allows the state to change its name to Northern Macedonia. The move was backed by 80 out of 120 members of the parliament at a sitting that was delayed with more than ten hours. The backing became possible after several MPs from the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE voted in favour.

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